SO the stage is set.

The wait for Saints supporters is nearly over.

It’s been a long 11 years since the men in the red-vee last ran out at Wembley.

Back in 2008, following consecutive Challenge Cup victories, few fans would have predicted they would wait more than a decade to return to see a final under the arch of the national stadium.

But that it what can happen with sport, there are peaks and troughs over history.

Great teams grow older, rebuilding takes place, there are near misses and the inevitably of reaching a final is no more.

This year, though, Saints are here. It is their opportunity to seize the day and underline just how good this side is. Justin Holbrook has done a stellar job in his two and half years in charge. He has sculpted a team that play the Saints way: free-flowing, attacking, expansive rugby. They have bags of pace and are as tough as teak.

The 16-point margin at the top of Super League underlines this. But to prove they are a great side, the Saints of 2019 need silverware. And the senior players within their ranks know that.

The skipper James Roby has talked about the need to fulfil their potential; to show their class and their mettle.

They are rightly favourites and should be close to full strength, albeit without the tremendously talented young forward Matty Lees because of injury.

But Warrington, despite their poor run of form in the league of late, are formidable opponents. Holbrook is acutely aware that his counterpart Steve Price is capable of preparing a side that delivers a big performance when it is needed. The Saints boss only needs to look back at last year’s play-off semi-final.

And though Saints have a record of 3-0 against the Wire this year, the encounter at the Halliwell Jones at the end of June, which Saints won late, is perhaps an indicator of how fiercely this will final will be contested. Remarkably, this is the first time these two great rivals have met in a major final.

It promises to be an absolute cracker.